In general, given a quaternion Q = r+u*i+v*j+w*k with integer coefficients [r,u,v,w], its powers Q^n = R(n)+U(n)*i+V(n)*j+W(n)*k define four integer sequences R(n),U(n),V(n),W(n). The process can be also transcribed as a four-term, first order recurrence for the elements of the four sequences. Since |Q^n| = |Q|^n, we have, for any n, R(n)^2+U(n)^2+V(n)^2+W(n)^2 = (L^2)^n, where L^2 = r^2+u^2+v^2+w^2 is a constant. The normalized sequence Q^n/L^n describes a unitary quaternion undergoing stepwise rotations by the angle phi = arctan(sqrt(u^2+v^2+w^2)/r). Consequently, the four sequences exhibit sign changes with the mean period of P = 2*Pi/phi steps.

When Q has a symmetry with respect to permutations and/or inversions of the imaginary axes, the four sequences become even more interdependent.

In this particular case Q = 2+j+k, and Q^n = a(n)+b(n)*(j+k), where b(n) is the sequence A190965. The first-order recurrence reduces to two-terms, namely a(n+1)=2*a(n)-2*b(n), b(n+1)=2*b(n)+a(n). This implies further a single-term, second order recurrence a(n+2)=4*a(n+1)-6*a(n), shared by both a(n) and b(n), but with different starting terms. The mean period of sign changes is P = 10.208598624... steps.